Messi turns down ¤30m Russia move

Leo Messi turned down a big-money offer of ¤30m a season after tax from a Russian club, made to him whilst he was negotiating his new deal at Barça. The unknown club could have been Anzhi Makhachkala, although this hasn't been as yet confirmed.

The anonymous club would be prepared in any case to pay the Barcelona striker’s ¤250m buy-out clause, as well as paying him the above-mentioned salary.

According to the Catalan newspaper 'Mundo Deportivo', the player's father and agent, Jorge Messi received an 'irresistible' offer from the Russian club which was prepared to invest almost ¤400m to add the player - considered by many as the best in the world – to its ranks.

After tax, Messi would have earned ¤30m per season for each of the three seasons he would have played in Russia. Despite this, the Argentine didn't at any time consider the move, because his plan is to continue winning trophies with Barcelona.

The offer was worth twice as much as his new deal at Barça, which is ¤16m per season until 2018.